Presentations of Final Projects in the Department of Equine Studies

On April 7–8, 2025, a small conference was held under the auspices of the Department of Equine Studies at Hólum University. This event also served as a kind of harvest festival for the department's students. Eleven students in their third and final year of the BS program in riding and riding instruction, along with one master's student, presented the research findings from their final projects.

The conference took place in the old sports hall of the main building at Hólum University—a hall that has recently undergone a significant facelift.

Attendees included students and staff from the Department of Equine Studies, administrative staff from the University, the rector, and a few external guests such as former students and one particularly distinguished alumnus. Additionally, first-year students from the department attended to prepare themselves for what awaits them in their third year, while second-year students, having recently embarked on nationwide practical training, were only sparsely represented.

Students were given the option to write and present their projects in either Icelandic or English. The research projects featured a diverse range of topics related to horses and riders, and the following titles were presented:

1. A survey on lifestyle factors: sports participation, diet, sleep, discipline, and mental coaching among elite riders in Iceland.

2. Body measurements and asymmetry in equestrian university students.

3. Resting behavior of horses in different boarding conditions.

4. Development of the ratio between withers height and cannon bone length in Icelandic horses.

5. A study of the materials used in riding hall flooring among professional riders in Iceland.

6. Exploring the Association Between Dental Health and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease in Icelandic Horses.

7. The Effect of Speed on the Ratings of Performance Horses in Tölt Competitions (T1).

8. Factors Affecting Speed in a 100 m Galloping Event.

9. The Impact of Age on the Times of Icelandic Race Horses in 250 m Competitions.

10. Lactic Acid Recovery in 250 m Racehorses.

11. The Effect of a 250 m Sprint on Post-Exercise Heart Rate Recovery in Icelandic Horses.

12. Body Measurements and Weight of Horses and Jockeys at the Icelandic Horse Championship 2023: Findings from Master's Research.

Lively and fruitful discussions emerged regarding the project outcomes as well as ideas for further research projects related to the Icelandic horse. Much remains to be studied, even as knowledge in various areas concerning the horse continues to grow.

We extend our sincere thanks to the students for their engaging and informative presentations, and to everyone who attended the event for their participation.